Make Americans work again: Majority support work requirements for Medicaid

“We should treat public assistance more like a trampoline than a hammock”

(National Sentinel) Welfare Reform: During the Clinton administration, Congress passed legislation that required able-bodied Americans receiving welfare benefits to have some form of employment, mostly as a way to save taxpayers money but also to promote greater self-reliance.

President Obama, however, did away with that requirement on his way to becoming, in Newt Gingrich’s words, the “food stamp president.” But a new survey found that a majority of Americans believe work requirements should definitely be implemented for those who are physically and mentally able to hold a job.

As reported by Breitbart News:

A new poll revealed on Monday that 51 percent of voters support work requirements for Medicaid, while 37 percent of percent of American voters oppose the measure.

Sixty-seven percent of Republicans approve of work requirements in exchange for Medicaid, while 52 percent of Democrats oppose the measure. Forty-six percent of independents support work requirements, while 36 percent of them do not approve.

Currently, no state Medicaid program has work requirements. however, many states have submitted waivers to the Trump administration to allow them to implement work requirements for able-bodied adults without children.

“Liberals and Democrats tend to view Medicaid as a government insurance program and conservatives and Republicans view it as a welfare program, and as a welfare benefit for which there should be a reciprocal obligation,” said Drew Altman, a chief executive at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The survey was conducted by polling firm Morning Consult, in conjunction with Politico. You can see it here.

Recently, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, asked the Trump administration to re-impose work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients. He said his state would require that able-bodied adults without dependents work at least 20 hours a week to qualify for Medicaid. Kentucky’s waiver would also lock out Medicaid recipients for six months if they get a new job or a new salary without notifying the state.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who ran for president last year but dropped out early, also believes work requirements would help save taxpayers money and make citizens more productive.

“We should treat public assistance more like a trampoline than a hammock,” Walker said, as quoted by Breitbart News.